Fitting for glass panels of doors and windows

ABSTRACT

Two fitting units are each to be placed at the opposite sides of a glass panel in contact therewith. Each of these units has a first portion which is to contact a glass panel adjacent an edge thereof, and a second portion which extends outwardly beyond the edge. Each unit includes an inner plate for contact with the glass panel and an outer plate overlying the inner plate, with the two plates having aligned holes of which the one in the outer plate is larger than the one in the inner plate. The second portions are spaced by spacing means remote from the edge of the glass panel, and threaded connectors connect the two units together so as to clamp them in contact with the glass panel.

United States Patent [191 Sittmann July 2, 1974 [54] FITTING FOR GLASS PANELS OF DOORS 3,305,999 2/1967 Bohn 52/499 X AND WINDOWS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] Inventor: Brigitte Sittmann, Stuttgart, 624,232 8/1961 ltaly 52/499 Germany 926.669 5/1963 Great Britain [73] Assignee: gig 23 gi i gg Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott Le b /W n G Assistant ExaminerCar] D. Friedman on erg ur ermany Attorney, Agent, or FirmMichael S; Striker [22] Filed: Nov. 15, 1972 v [21 Appl. No.: 306,868 [57] ABSTRACT Two fittlng units are each to be placed at the opposite sides of a glass panel in contact therewith. Each of Forelgn pp y Data these units has a first portion which is to contact a Nov. 17, 1971 Germany 2156954 glass paneladjacent an edge thereof, and a second portion which extends outwardly beyond the edge. [52] US. Cl 52/624, 52/627, 52/628, Each unit includes an inner plate for contact with the 52/656 glass panel and an outer plate overlying the inner [51] Int. Cl E06b 3/00 plate, with the two plates having aligned holes of [58] Field of Search 52/656, 627, 628, 509, which the one in the outer plate is larger than the one 52/496, 499, 476, 51 l, 616, 500, 397, 506, in the inner plate. The second portions are spaced by 307, 308, 400, 498, 624; 16/129, 137; 49/501 spacing means remote from the edge of the glass panel, and threaded connectors connect the two units [56] References Cited together so as to clamp them in contact with the glass UNITED STATES PATENTS PaneL 2,409,808 10/1946 Sowle 52/208 X 19 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 2 2 jK18 9 m '-10 f4 #1] 17 5 yr 47 11 /-n 12 3 I 11 -12 15 14 $8 16 1 i l i PATENTED JUL 21974 SHEET 1 BF 4 PATENTED 2 I974 SHEET 3 0F 4 FITTING FOR GLASS PANELS OF DOORS AND WINDOWS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a fitting for doors and windows, and in particular to a fitting for doors and windows which are constituted by glass panels.

In many instances a door or a window is constituted by a glass panel, that is a panel which is usually relatively thick and heavy, and does not have a frame. Evidently, special fittings must be provided for hanging such panels, and the art knows fittings of a type usingmetal castings and provided with bores and depressions for screws. These fittings straddle the edge of a glass panel and the screws are used to clamp them against opposite sides of the panel. The difficulty with the prior art is that castings have relatively little strength and will readily bend or become deformed when the screw or screws are tightened, with the result that they will then be under tension and will break quite readily. Aside from this, castings require molds which, in conjunction with other features of the manufacture of castings, necessitates a relatively expensive construction of such fittings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide an improved fitting for glass panels of doors and windows, which is not possessed of the aforementioned disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved fitting which is of high strength.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide such fitting which is simple and inexpensive to construct.

In keeping with these objects, and of others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a fitting for glass panels of doors and windows which, briefly stated, comprises two fitting units adapted to be placed at opposite sides of a glass panel and each having a first portion which is to contact the glass panel adjacent an edge thereof, and a second portion which extends outwardly beyond such edge. Each of the units includes an inner plate for contact with the glass panel and provided in the second portion with an inner hole, and an outer plate overlying the inner plate and provided in the second portion with a larger outer hole. Spacing means is provided for spacing the second portions apart at a side of the holes which is remote from the first portion. Connecting means spans the distance between the inner plates and extends through the inner holes, the connecting means being provided with enlarged portions which are located in the outer holes.

Fitting units so constructed are inexpensive and very simple to produce, and have high strength. Moreover, according to a currently preferred embodiment of the invention the two fitting units which make up a fitting together with the threaded connecting means and the spanning means, can be mirror-symmetrical, that is they can be identical and merely arranged mirror-symmetrically on the glass panel. This of course further decreases manufacturing and stock-keeping expenses.

The plates are advantageously of sheet steel and the openings can be stamped in the plates. The plates of each unit are advantageously welded to one another.

The spacing means may, according to a currently preferred embodiment, be in form of sections of bar material, and in this manner the fitting can be readily adapted for glass panels of different thickness, merely by inserting a bar-material spacer of different crosssectional dimensions between the two fitting units. The threaded connecting means must of course also be accommodated to different thicknesses of the panel. In any case, however, this is very easily done and only a relatively few number of components must be kept in stock. The assembly of the fitting can be facilitated by having the bar-material spacing means extend with one end into an opening or recess provided in one of the plates of one of the fitting units so as to hold it in place.

However, the spacing means may also be formed of one piece with the fitting units themselves, and then edge portions of the inner plates are bent inwardly towards one another, and advantageously the distance to which these edge portions extend from the general plane of the remainder of the respective inner plate corresponds to substantially half the thickness of the panel with which the fitting is to be used.

The fitting units may be surrounded with a cover which can be in form of two separate shells, each of which surrounds one of the fitting units, that is overlies the outer plate thereof.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a section taken on line II of FIG. 3, illustrating a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the embodiment in FIG. 1, as seen in the direction of the arrow II of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4' is a view analogous to FIG. 2 but of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view of the embodiment in FIG. 4, as seen in the direction of the arrow V of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line VI-VI of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing the drawing now in detail, and firstly the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, it will beseen that the fitting per se is designated with reference numeral 3. It is located in the region of a recess 2 of a glass panel 1, at the edge and corner of a so-called fullglass door in this instance. This is the type of door wherein a heavy glass panel is mounted in a frame, but unlike conventional doors the glass panel itself is not supported or reinforced by a frame.

The fitting 3 has two fitting units 4 and 5, located at the right-hand side and at the left-hand side of the glass panel 1, respectively (see FIGS. 3 and 6). In this embodiment the two fitting units 4 and 5 are identical but are arranged mirror-symmetrically with reference to one another.

Each of the fitting units 4 and 5 is composed of an inner and an outer plate. The plates of the unit 4 are designated with reference numerals 6 and 7, and those of FIG. 5 with reference numerals 6 and 7; all of the plates of each unit are connected with one another by appropriate means, such as by welding, adhesive or the like. They are advantageously of sheet steel. The entire fitting, and thus the units 4 and 5 thereof, are surrounded by a cover 8 which is composed of the shell sections 9 and 10 each of which overlies and covers one of the units 4 and 5.

As the drawing shows the outer plates 6 and 6 are provided with holes 11, and the inner plates 7 and 7' are provided with holes 12, with each of the holes 12 registering with the associated hole 11, and with all of the holes registering with one another. The outer holes 11 in the outer plates 6 and 6 are larger than the inner holes 12, with the latter being circular so as to accommodate the shaft of a bolt 13. Through these holes extends the threaded connecting means, namely the justmentioned bolt 13 whose head 14 is located in one and a nut 15 of which is located in the other of the holes 11. One or both of the holes 1 1 are polygonal, for instance hexagonal in keeping with the contour of the nut 15 (and, if appropriate, of the head 14) in order to prevent turning movement. In the illustrated embodiment the head 14 of the bolt 13 is of circular outline so that it can freely turn in the polygonal opening 11 to permit tightening of the threaded connector.

The nut 15 is received in the opening 11 of the plate 6 of the unit 4, with this unit 4 being located at the side of the panel which faces the exterior of a room, the purpose of the polygonal shape of the opening 11 being to prevent access to and turning of the nut 15 and thus to make it difficult or impossible to gain illegal entry by removing the fitting. The head 14 of this bolt 13, which is located at the inner side of the panel, is in this instance provided with a hexagonal recess into which an Allen-head wrench can be inserted for tightening or loosening the connection.

As the drawing shows, the plates 6, 6', 7 and 7 are elongated, and in longitudinal direction of each plate there are provided approximately centrally and in a straight line several screw connections, that is several other threaded connecting means using bolts 13. However, it is possible to use only a single one. If several are provided as in the illustrated embodiment, the shafts of the bolts 13 extend through bores 16 in a bar member 17 (here of quadratic cross section) which is welded to the plate 7 of one of the units, here the unit 5. The bar 17 has connected with it by means of a pin connection a member 18, the pins being designated with reference numeral 20. In addition, it is connected therewith via two screws 19. The member 18 is provided with an.

priately shaped as shown in FIG. 2, in order to accommodate the member 18.

The embodiment in FIGS. l-3 is highly advantageous and avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. Even more advantageous, and currently preferred, is the embodiment in FIGS. 4-6 which differs from that of FIGS. 1-3 primarily in the different arrangement of the spacing means 29. In this embodiment the member 18 is omitted and the edge portions 22 are not bent over as in FIGS. 1-3.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 4-6 the inner plates 7 and 7 need not be changed depending upon different thicknesses of the glass panel (to accommodate the dimension of the bent-over portion to the glass panel thickness), because separate spacing means 29 are provided here. These are in form of bar material sections, having one end 30 which is configurated cylindrically in this embodiment and inserted into bores 28 of one of the plates, here the plate 7. The length of these spacing means 29 and of the bolts 13 is of course again accommodated to the thickness of the glass panel 1. However, it will be appreciated that to permit an adaptation of the fitting to use with glass panels of different thickness, it is merely necessary to have on hand some distancing members or means 29 of different length, and some screws or bolts 13 of different length.

In both of the embodiments, that of FIGS. l-3 and that of FIGS. 4-6, the cover 8 has shell sections 9 and 10 which respectively surround the units 4 and 5 exteriorly. These shell sections 9 and 10 are also identical and can be used with either of the units. They are provided on two opposite sidewalls with holes 23 and 24 into which pins 25 or bolts 26 engage (see FIGS. 2 and 4) which are secured in the outer plates 6 and 6, respectively, in fitted bores or in tapped bores.

When a fitting 3 of either of the two embodiments is to be secured to a glass panel I, the units 4 and 5 are placed against the outer and inner sides, respectively, of the glass panel 1, with sealing members 27 being interposed between the glass panel 1 and the respective units 4 and 5. The bolt 13 is pushed through the holes of one unit with the head 14 becoming lodged in one of the openings or holes 11, and the nut 15 is placed into the hole 11 of the other unit, here the unit 5. Now an Allen-wrench is inserted into the recess in the head 14 and the latter is turned with the wrench, so that the bolt 13 becomes threaded into the nut 15. During this operation, the units 4 and 5 are supported at their first portions which engage the panel 1 by the latter, clamping the yieldable sealing members 27 against it. At their second portions which are remote from the edge of the panel, they support one another via the edge portions 22 which move into abutment (in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3). The bolts 13 are located in the vicinity of the edge 32 of the cutout 2 of the glass panel 1, in order to obtain the maximum possible clamping force and to maintain the deformation of the plates 7 and 7' as small as possible. Because the bolts 13 are located between the distance or spacing means 29 and the edge 32 of the glass panel 1, no bending moments will act upon them. When the bolt is tightened, the member 18 is inserted into the recess provided for it and is secured by means of the screws 19 with the member 17. Thereupon the shells 9 and 10 are placed upon the units 4 and 5, respectively, with the hole 23 receiving the pin 25 and the bolts 26, which has first been threaded into its tapped bore, being turned until it extends into the hole 24.

When this is completed, the fitting is ready for hanging of the door panel 1. Of course, it will be understood that such fittings can also be used for hanging windows wherein the element closing the window opening is in form of a glass panel which is not framed. However, such windows are less common than doors of this type.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

while the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a fitting for glass panels of doors and windows, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. A fitting for glass panels of doors and windows, comprising two fitting units adapted to be placed at opposite sides of a glass panel of a given thickness and each having a first portion which is to contact the glass panel adjacent an edge thereof, and a second portion which extends outwardly beyond said edge and has an end portion remote from said first portion, said units each including an inner plate for contact with the glass panel and provided in said second portion intermediate said first and said end portion with an inner hole, and an outer plate attached to and overlying said' inner plate and provided in said second portion with an outer hole which is aligned with and larger than said inner hole; spacing means extending between said end portions of said inner plates and having a dimension substantially equal to said given thickness for spacing said end portions apart by said given thickness; and threaded connecting means connecting said inner plates with one another and extending through said inner holes, said connecting means having enlarged portions located in said outer holes.

2. A fitting as defined in claim 1, wherein said units are identical, and are arranged mirror-symmetrically.

3. A fitting as defined in claim 1, wherein said plates are of sheet steel and said holes are stamped.

4. A fitting as defined in claim 1, wherein saidinner and outer plates of each unit are welded together.

5. A fitting as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner holes are circular.

6. A fitting as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said enlarged portions is of polygonal outline, and wherein at least one of said outer holes is also of polygonal outline.

7. A fitting as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said inner plates is provided with additional inner holes located on a line with the first mentioned inner hole intermediate said first and said end portion; and wherein each of said outer plates is provided with additional outer holes each registering with one of said additional inner holes.

8. A fitting as defined in claim 7; and further comprising a plurality of additional threaded connecting means associated with said additional holes; and additional spacing means each associated with one of said additional connecting means.

9. A fitting as defined in claim 1, said spacing means being a section of bar material and having a length corresponding to the thickness of the glass panel.

10. A fitting as defined in claim 9, wherein at least one of said plates has a recess, and wherein said section has an end portion received in said recess.

11. A fitting as defined in claim 10, wherein said recess is a bore, and at least said end portion is of cylindrical configuration.

12. A fitting as defined in claim 9, wherein said bar material is of at least substantially circular crosssection.

13. A fitting as defined in claim 1, wherein said spacing means is constituted by edge portions of said inner plates which extend inwardly towards one another.

14. A fitting as defined in claim 13, and wherein the width of each edge portion corresponds to substantially half of said thickness.

15. A fitting as defined in claim 1; further comprising a bar member located intermediate said second portions and having at least one bore; and wherein said threaded connecting means extends through said bore.

16. A fitting as defined in claim 15, said inner plates having respective inner sides facing one another and being provided with depressions in which said bar member is at least in part received.

17. A fitting as defined in claim 1; and further comprising cover means externally surrounding said units.

18.A fitting as defined in claim 17, saidcover means comprising two shells each covering one of said units.

19. A fitting as defined in claim 18, each of said shells having two sidewalls provided with apertures; and further comprising pins secured in the respective outer plates and extending into said apertures. 

1. A fitting for glass panels of doors and windows, comprising two fitting units adapted to be placed at opposite sides of a glass panel of a given thickness and each having a first portion which is to contact the glass panel adjacent an edge thereof, and a second portion which extends outwardly beyond said edge and has an end portion remote from said first portion, said units each including an inner plate for contact with the glass panel and provided in said second portion intermediate said first and said end portion with an inner hole, and an outer plate attached to and overlying said inner plate and provided in said second portion with an outer hole which is aligned with and larger than said inner hole; spacing means extending between said end portions of said inner plates and having a dimension substantially equal to said given thickness for spacing said end portions apart by said given thickness; and threaded connecting means connecting said inner plates with one another and extending through said inner holes, said connecting means having enlarged portions located in said outer holes.
 2. A fitting as defined in claim 1, wherein said units are identical, and are arranged mirror-symmetrically.
 3. A fitting as defined in claim 1, wherein said plates are of sheet steel and said holes are stamped.
 4. A fitting as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner and outer plates of each unit are welded together.
 5. A fitting as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner holes are circular.
 6. A fitting as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said enlarged portions is of polygonal outline, and wherein at least one of said outer holes is also of polygonal outline.
 7. A fitting as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said inner plates is provided with additional inner holes located on a line with the first mentioned inner hole intermediate said first and said end portion; and wherein each of said outer plates is provided with additional outer holes each registering with one of said additional inner holes.
 8. A fitting as defined in claim 7; and further comprising a plurality of additional threaded connecting means associated with said additional holes; and additional spacing means each associated with one of said additional connecting means.
 9. A fitting as defined in claim 1, said spacing means being a section of bar material and having a length corresponding to the thickness of the glass panel.
 10. A fitting as defined in claim 9, wherein at least one of said plates has a recess, and wherein said section has an end portion received in said recess.
 11. A fitting as defined in claim 10, wherein said recess is a bore, and at least said end portion is of cylindrical configuration.
 12. A fitting as defined in claim 9, wherein said bar material is of at least substantially circular cross-section.
 13. A fitting as defined in claim 1, wherein said spacing means is constituted by edge portions of said inner plates which extend inwardly towards one another.
 14. A fitting as defined in claim 13, and wherein the width of each edge portion corresponds to substantially half of said thickness.
 15. A fitting as defined in claim 1; further comprising a bar member located intermediate said second portions and having at least one bore; and wherein said threaded connecting means extends through said bore.
 16. A fitting as defined in claim 15, said inner plates having respective inner sides facing one another and being provided with depressions in which said bar member is at least in part received.
 17. A fitting as defined in claim 1; and further cOmprising cover means externally surrounding said units.
 18. A fitting as defined in claim 17, said cover means comprising two shells each covering one of said units.
 19. A fitting as defined in claim 18, each of said shells having two sidewalls provided with apertures; and further comprising pins secured in the respective outer plates and extending into said apertures. 